IMO you should say sorry, face to face and cash only. If the price seems far lower than the competition then question its authenticity. densol_2 Forumite. To stay safe, it's always worth arranging to meet . In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. These rules apply to whether youre selling or buying. Choose a simple background if possible like a plain wall or free corner of carpet. Have you found something you want to buy secondhand, but worried about online scammers? You can always report it to ACORN as well. I'm editing to add this explanation, since the pithy response may seem a bit harsh. In rare cases, you may offer to mail the item to the buyer. There's no way refute it, they keep the money.Buyers do similar and keep the money and the item. I politely decline and advise that post is not possible. This is why use of Paypal can come in handy, as they can handle disputes. By using our site, you agree to our. Why oh why people use bank deposit via Gumtree? Some of that probably has to do with what types of items that you sell or buy if its baby and kids gear then you are likely to meet fellow mums and dads! Wanting to sell your old stuff online without fees, but wondering if its safe to sell on Gumtree? Im in the same boat. This is handy if you dont want to receive nuisance calls. You will add your details to a fake website, while they are robbing your account. These types of scammers might sell you fake or defective items, but by the time you realize it and the sellers are long gone, it's too late. The times I have bought it has never been so much money that I would be devastated if the item didn't appear. What I mean is, they valued the time it would have taken to learn how to deal safely on the site (e.g, read the obvious warning in several places stating that you should use it for face-to-face cash-in-hand transactions only), more than they valued their $80. Cookies help us customize the PayPal Community for you, and some are necessary to make our site work. He's okay with this. Gumtree also says to be waryof buyers or sellers that ask you to switch payment method, normally to one that has no consumer protection. Click this link to . IfGumtree needed to get hold of you theyd do so via the message centre in your account. Lmao hope that post won't happen How does PayPal help protect me? If that 80 was their life savings, they probably would have been a lot more cautious. From PayPal scams, to getting robbed it never hurts to remain cautious and protect yourself. UPDATE: Ive since dipped my toes into trying eBay, and it has surprisingly been an easy and positive experience. Usually, the scams go something like this: you will list something on Gumtree, then you might receive a Gumtree delivery scam Whatsapp message enquiring about the item. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. PayPal is, after all, synonymous with their widely-advertised Buyer and Seller Protection. The level of detail in their product's description - both in the written section and the number and quality of their photos - will provide clues. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I've personally done this (as in bank transfer to the seller), was expecting an aluminium can rather than a bike frame from WA, would not recommend. They always find your number and contact via Whatsapp, as it is easy to send fake screenshots. The details are minor but it could be no padlock in the address bar, spelling mistakes or a web address other than gumtree.com or my.gumtree.com. Also contact Gumtree and let them know what has happened or, if you are suspicious of any ad or buyer/seller, then double check with Gumtree before committing to buying or selling an item. I have a different problem. Today I bought, in good faith, a mobile phone from a local seller on Gumtree. Then, post the ad with as much detail as possible. I only use gumtree for local purchases paid for in cash on pickup delivery. Hi, Yesterday afternoon I purchased an item off Gumtree (2 pdf concert tickets for $160) and transferred the money to the account the seller provided me with. They can request their funds back after they get the item. Required fields are marked *. A buyer wants me to send an Apple Watch to a parcel locker and he is willing to do bank deposit. I sell items on Gumtree in person only. Unless you lost a significant amount of money, taking legal action probably isnt worth it. Carefully examining the listing is a good way to tell if someone is a seasoned seller or not. Cookies help us customize the PayPal Community for you, and some are necessary to make our site work. 25 October 2014 at 12:16AM. If the response casts doubt in your mind then log into your Gumtree account to see if the message is also there and just delete the text. If you want to sell an item on Gumtree, youll need to create an ad. Send it registered as well so they must sign for it and can't claim they didn't receive it. I confirmed with PayPal and it was confirmed a scam. Copyright 2000-2020 Gumtree.com Limited. If this happens, plug in your phone charger and see if it charges your phone if not, then clearly the power point is the culprit. https://blog.gumtree.com.au/gumtree-buy-sell-win-selling-guide/, http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/gumtree-secrets--5-ways-7894050. Because they're accepting paypal payments for in-hand exchanges, or non-trackable posted, or giving bank deposits, or paying 'agent fees' for delivery of their car to an oil rig (and all variations on that ridiculous theme), or handing over cash before getting the item, or paying when getting the item but before making sure it works (phones with IMEI blocks or fake iPhones/tablets especially), or any of the other myriad ways in which naive or lazy buyers and sellers leave themselves open to easy abuse by unscrupulous individuals. I live in the cold now but I miss Brisbane! I have screenshots of the discussion on the board where she said she is NOT sending the items, would that in any move it along faster?I just want my money back. But caught them out before it went too far, and reported it. i dont know his address but as he is selling multiple items i could get a friend to get it easily. Like others have said, use Paypal 'goods and services' so make sure you are protected. Its also a good idea to take pictures from lots of different angles and include some close-up shots this will ensure buyers know exactly what theyre getting. This is less of a concern when using PayPal from a legitimate online business; more of a problem if youre sending personal details to the rando who you just bought a second-hand toaster from. Take a look at Gumtrees community guidelines before you post your ads. The old saying 'too good to be true' is worth bearing in mind. Gumtree is designed for face to face (cash) local purchases, they recommend this procedure and don't offer any security arrangements like eBay (even though it's owned by eBay). Description says they can post it at buyer's expense, which is great, my question - is how does this work? Now that youre clued up on staying safe whilst using Gumtree, dont forget to read up on tips on how to sell successfully on Gumtree. Scam Alert: Gumtree, whatsapp and the courier service. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. If youre super vigilant about your personal information, note that PayPal often gives out your basic information in transactions (full name, email, address). It is 34 (84 cm) long x 20 (50 cm) wide. Its a phrase we keep repeating, but if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. As with any scam there are few signs to look out for which might help you determine whether its genuine. If they claim they are having account issues then, as mentioned above, search their seller number online to read previous reviews, or halt the sale until youve contacted Gumtree. Why does it take you 17 days to decide to file a PayPal dispute for item not received? Send me some money and I'll mail you the answer. Its also part of Gumtrees recommendations on staying safe. Delete your item from your listed ads: Log in to your account; click on your name; click on Manage Ads; click on Delete. The amount sent to you includes delivery charges 105.00 GBP. deleted568739 22. did you miss the part where they say gt is for f2f only? There are a few ways you could tackle this. You can decide whether you want potential buyers to contact you by email, phone or both. Also, the Gumtree app encourages to use "Paypal at the meet up". I doubt she will as she feels I already took the money.Is it really going to take 17 days before Paypal gets involved and makes a decision? This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Sep 20th made contact and paid for items. Rule 3: Use cash only. Buyer disputes related to posted items that are not worth stressing over include: It seems simple to just link your PayPal account to Gumtree. Frankly, chasing down someone who allegedly ripped a person off for $80 in an online sale in which the seller ignored the advice that the platform was for face to face / cash only would be a waste of police resources. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. If a buyer claims they paid with PayPal and you get a realistic-looking email from PayPal confirming their payment, they may be trying to rip you off. I just wouldn't do it unless he does direct deposit. If youve got an account on Gumtree, then you might end up with a text asking you for personal information like passwords or bank details. | LawAnswers.com.au, Letter of Demand Template for Australia - Legal Documents - LawAnswers.com.au. We get it! If you accept one buyers offer over another, send a brief message to the other buyers to let them know the item has sold. So you should probably be okay, so long as you're not doing something else stupid like putting it through as a 'gift' of paypal money, or paying for something virtual/digital/service-based instead of payment for a tangible object. If youre selling or buying or just have an account set up on Gumtree, youre at risk. Your suburb is fine, just so buyers know your rough location, and whether youre local to them. You can then click the app open once it downloads. Start creating your ad. My sister and I tested both PayPal payments. What selling platform Gumtree, facebook? Title the ad. his in sydney. This is such a big no no! That said, no bad experiences. For tips on responding to potential buyers, keep reading! If you simply stick with some very basic Gumtree rules for selling, you can avoid most of the issues. Enter a descriptive title. JavaScript is disabled. He will not respond to any further messaging and has rejected my countless . If you can, upload a picture of the item as well. Respond appropriately to potential buyers so you can sell your items. I think you need to reread.It did not take me 17 days to decide to file a paypal dispute. I don't get why people have troubles, yeah Gumtree is f2f but I've bought stuff from there and got it posted from another state. he is in Sydney surrey hills as far as i know, it was a small amount. It doesn't hurt to make sure the items are clean - a quick wipe, dust, or launder and iron (following the fabric care label) can really help them look their best. Paying for Items on Gumtree. Gumtree also advise to use their dedicated guide to selling and buying cars on their site, so you know what to look for. Not really. "I didn't know where to start with using Gumtree. If anyone tells me to post the item and they'll pay for it, I ignore it. I only ever sell on eBay as you are protected as a seller. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It's also a very good idea to photograph the item being boxed and boxed with tracking code. I have bought a few things (mainly bikes) interstate through Gumtree so I can offer some input as a 'buyer'. You are viewing the PayPal Community Archives. Even though Gumtree partners with Parcel2Go, there have been a lot of Gumtree Whatsapp message scams. Exactly, police have more important matters to help the community. i paid via bank teansfer. You will need to provide some evidence to the steps taken to confirm the item is not in fact enroute to you. So make sure you grab their attention with our top tips. He will reply to other people if they enquire about items he is selling but will not speak or reply to me. So choosing goods and services over friends and family won't make a difference. Ive only sold portable items that are easily transportable to a public meeting place. Paypal is not safe due to the fact that they don't always make the best decisions. Just to say this scam is still current as he contacted me Easter Sunday ( 4/4/21), except name changed to advocdodave (signed Wolfe) and now he's not on an oil rig, but 'in a wheelchair' so can't view the car which 'he' wants for daughter Jennifer! The buyer can test it out properly, and you can both walk away from the sale, knowing that everyone is happy. VAT No. Refuses to send. A day or two later I noticed they added some other items so emailed and texted again and no still no reply after a couple of days. The thing is tho, How do I know he used the goods and services option rather than friends and family? If it doesn't arrive, am I able to have PayPal refund me the money? Each to their own, and totally fine with me when Im buying from someone else (though I do let someone know where Im going, if its to someones home). As I stated, she said she would ship the 28th. I sell on Gumtree those items I'm NOT prepared to send like big articles - cash on delivery - personal collection. I dont trust gumtree personally. PayPal is SUPER convenient, and one of the safest ways to pay for just about everything these days. The information I provide is not a replacement for legal advice. Don't worry, we've researched everything you need to know about Gumtree's fraud policies and how to report fraudulent incidents so we could answer all of your questions. Now I feel much better equipped. i have proof of purchase. What's a buyer scam? Which is a bit vague, and suggests that that protection applies for Gumtree items that are posted. Always paid via PayPal and asked for tracking when posted, I never do Bank Deposits. Help. A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. Use a password that you can remember easily. You must log in or register to reply here. clear our homes of unwanted goods and recouping some cash, Rule 1: Dont give out too much personal information, Rule 2: Buy or sell face-to-face in a public place. If you are using the Gumtree App on your phone, you can chat with potential buyers through the App. while they may entertain you, you dont want to put off your buyer. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Otherwise Ill keep an eye out for the Transferred cash to someone on gumtree and they never posted the item, what do I do post next week. If youre considering using PayPal as a safe option for a seller on Gumtree if unscrupulous scammers try to submitting disputes against their payments (even after they receive the goods) you can still find yourself out of pocket. Stick with these basic tips whenever buying or selling on Gumtree to avoid a bucketload of stress when youre just trying to save or make a few extra bucks. And why would they need your home address or phone number? It should be noted that it can take time should it all go to shit however, only a minor inconvenience if it is a relatively high value transaction. Several people pointed this out, she just blew them off. And if you dont even want to do that, the system gives you a default name of Gumtree User. And lastly, dont enter your home address for your Location in your Gumtree profile. Gumtree may have its fair share of scammers and time-wasters (and the odd weirdo who sends you really strange enquiries) but most of the time, theyre just normal people who are looking to buy and sell their used items. Funny to dispute a post from 2015. Take lots of pictures of the item before packing and once packed and make sure you are covered via insurance when posting. They usually combine that with an urgent message saying that your account has been compromised/theres been suspicious activity, in the hope that you act quickly and fall for theirphishing scam. You may need to add numbers to the end of the username if it has already been taken by another user on Gumtree. You may have used items in your home youd like to sell on Gumtree quickly and effectively. A brilliant article. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today! If you live in the UK, you can file an online report through Action Fraud. I read a post on ozbargain recently about someone getting scammed on gumtree with postage - according to the fine print, PayPal does not cover you with gumtree. No reply.Sat came around I filed dispute.Sunday (1st, 11 days after paid, 6 after apparent loss of contact) she posts on this board saying she doesn't have any addresses bc Paypal not working right (she stated she'd known this for 8 months, never once asked for my address in 5 days we had contact), her messenger is broke.and apparently her email too.So her and I had a 'discussion' on a transaction board as it was the only way to get hold of her.I moved my dispute to a claim right after that. For example, instead of just saying denim skirt you could say blue knee-length denim pencil skirt, size 14. Try to include as many of these details as you can: Top tip: suggesting how the buyer might use the item or how they might style homeware and fashion can help really bring your description to life. Dodgy powerpoints do exist, and you wouldnt want the buyer thinking youre flogging an electronic item that doesnt work! I get it it is a hassle to arrange a meet-up time. Just ask for money order and cash in before you post. Safest is direct bank transfer, you have the money no matter what. Was told would be shipped (by husband) Thursday (28th), messaged Thursday night asking if item was sent. Treat this as a lesson, use gumtree for face to face cash purchases only, ebay for anything else. Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. One of the best things about Gumtree is that you can buy and sell without having to give out too much of your personal information. I now prefer to use ebay when I want it shipped to me and use Gumtree for local exchanges only. Meet the buyer in a public place. I think twice about giving out my address on a regular day, let alone to a rando who responded to my classifieds ad. Buying and selling on Gumtree does not need to be stressful. I ALWAYS meet people in public spaces for my sales. What a tosser!! If you are worried about meeting the buyer in person on your own due to safety, bring a friend with you. And don't hand over/post the goods until you have that cash in hand. Your title will catch your buyers eye, but a good description will sell your item for you. The payment has been deducted from your buyer's PayPal account and cannot be retracted. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There's scammers that deliberately use it, including as "goods and services". Why oh why people use bank deposit via Gumtree? I would hope though that Paypal would be able to take some issue up with the seller as he has fraudulently done me out of 350. For this reason, there is no processing fee when payment is made with bank or PayPal balance.However as it is a gift payment, there is also no Buyer protection as no goods or services should have been exchanged.If he was not a close mate or family member you should never use that option as it enables the seller to evade his paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time. So if Gumtree is full of scammers, should we all give up and resort to other platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, when trying to clear our homes of unwanted goods and recouping some cash? For $80 you'd have to be fortunate to even get them to file a police report (it'd be less than most insurance's excess, so hardly worth the effort) if it was a few K or something you'd probably get a report but not much else. I am an irregular user of gumtree. Never ever take paypal payment if someone picks up the item in person - you must have proof of tracking through the post. For categories like homeware and furniture, including measurements is essential so that buyers can visualise the item in their own home. In good condition with no marks or scratches. A word of caution meeting in a public place reduces your risk, but is not a guarantee of safety. All rights reserved. I have a potential buyer for an item listed on Gumtree but they're insisting I give my personal email address rather than communicate via the Gumtree messaging system. All of his contact details and proof from Australia Post that he did not send items that i paid for. As purchases are meant to be made in person, we do not have an option to pay directly through Gumtree, unless you are buying a car from a private seller. Any suggestions, opinions or statements I make should not be taken as such. I got an offer from a guy who's keen to buy it. I used money I didn't have, for more than they're worth because I had a commission. All the purchases I've done have done this. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Meeting them face to face allows you not only to gauge whether they can be trusted, but also gives you a chance to check that the item you're purchasing matches its description. Just about anything else can be reversed. Gumtree is a platform to help bring local buyers and sellers together. It hasn't even been 17 days since I paid.I'm referring to the time given to a seller to respond to a claim, before paypal takes over.Even if it did, it's well within Paypal's window for claim allowance. This is a dream for an identity thief or criminal mastermind (who doesnt need to be much of a mastermind, really, given how much personal information is there for the taking). Tell the police to contact Gumtree if they need to investigate further. Select your items and give them a good once-over. But depending on where you are, having visitors may not be allowed. Try to respond to messages or phone calls as quickly as possible and offer to provide extra photos or further details if you can. Below are three golden rules to using Gumtree without worrying about your safety. i have proof of purchase. 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